Apparatus for raising sunken vessels.



J. W. MACDONALD.

APPARATUS FOR BAlSiNG SUNKEN VESSELS.

' v APPLICATION FILED 0508,1916. 1,271,342, Patented July 2,1918.

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APPARATUS FOR RAISiNG SUNKEN VESSELS.

APPLICATION men use. a.- 1916.

Patented July 2, 1918.

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\ Specification of Letters ratent.

T onnro 010011111), 03 PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

-" TUB FOB, SING SUNKElQ' VESSEIJS.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application filed December 8, 1916. Serial No. 185,842.

. is my purpose to provide apparatus of the class described, which willembody in its construction, among other features, a floatand a cable carried by the vessel and normally inclosed, one end of the cable being connected to the float and the other end connected to the vessel so that when the float is released in the event of the sinking of the vessel such float will rise to the surface of the water to indicate the position of the vesscope of the claims.

- In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view of a sunken vessel and a raising vessel, showing my apparatus in use.

- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a vessel equipped with the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

Fig.- 4 is an enlarged fragmentary s de elevation, showing the block carried clamp on the guide rope.

Referringnow to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a vessel, which, in the present instance, is in the nature of a submarine boat. Mounted upon the hull of the boat adjacent to the respective ends thereof are casings 2, each having the lower end formed with an outwardly projecting annular flange 3, and en aging the flanges 3 are the outer ends of camping plates 4 arranged around the casing 2 and spaced apart eqpal distances. The outer ends of these 0 amping plates 4 are pivoted to the hull of the boat, and connected to the under side of each clamping plate 4 is one end of a stem 5 that projects through a stufling box 6 intothe interior of the hull. The inner end portion of the stem 5 is trained through a yoke 7 suitably fastened to the hull of the boat, and

fixed upon the inner end of the stem is a hand wheel 8. Connected with each plate 4 is one end of a spring 9, and the other end of the spring 9 is fastened to the deck of the boat by means of a bolt 10.

The stems 5 are normallythreaded into the yoke 7 and hold the plates 4 against the flanges 3, thereby securely fastening the easings 2 to the hull of the boat. When, however, the stems 5 are rotated under the action of the hand wheels 8 to disengage the threaded portion thereof from the yoke 7 and disengaging the plate4 at 4', thesprings 9 react to swing the plates 4 so as to release the flanges 3, thereby permitting the casings to be removed from the boat. Leading into each casing is an air supply pipe 11 whereby air may be blown into the casings to lift the latter from the hull upon the release of the casings by the clamping plates 4.

Secured to the deck of the boat and arranged within therespective casings 2 are base plates 12 each formed with an upstanding shank 13 having its upper end provided with an enlarged head 14, and formed in the head 14, the shank 13, and the base plate 12, is a bore 15. Passed through the bore 15 and anchored therein is one end of a guide rope 16. This guide rope is of any suitable length, and fastened to the other end thereof is one extremity of a relatively thin'hauling rope 17 Connected to the other end of the hauling rope 17 is a float 18 of any suitable construction.

Under normal conditions, the ropes 16 and 17 are suitably coiled in the respective casings 2 and the float 18 arranged within such casings and inclosed thereby. When, however, the casings are released and removed from the boat, as previously described, the float 18 would carry the hauling rope 17 upwardly in the event of the sinking of the vessel. The float on the upper surface of the water will indicate to the rescue 19 adapted to engage the ropes 16 and slide downwardly thereon toward the sunken boat, and each block isformed with a bore 20 to receive a, rope 16 and has the upper end equipped with an eye 21 to which is connected one end of a hoisting chain 22, the other ends of the hoisting chains being connected to hoisting drums or similar apparatus.

- Pivotally connected to the lower .end of each-block 19-are oppositely disposed spring held jaws 23 that engage the head 14 ,on

the shank: 13 in the downward movement of the guide rope, so as to form a connection between the cable and the sunken boat The cables may now be wound upon their respective drums to bring the boat to the surface of the water.

While I have herein shown and described,

the referred form of my invention by way of ustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise'details of construction herein de-4.

scribed and delineated, as modification-and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. In apparatus for raising sunken vessels,

a guide rope having one end. secured to the nausea vessel, a float connected tothe other end of the guide rope, a casing inclosing said float and guide rope to hold the same upon the vessel, means fon introducing air under pressure for releasing said casing, guide rope and float in the event of the sinking of the vessel whereby the float may rise to the surface of the water, and means adapted to traverse said guide rope and engage the vessel whereby the latter may be raised. 7

2. Ina device of the class described, a cable, a cable-retaining device to be carried by a vessel, a float'connected with said cable, means for winding one end of the cable, the casing inclosing the float, the winding means and the cable, means for introducing air under pressure to the casing, and a device for retaining the casing in position and releasing the latter Whendesired, said retaining and? releasing means comprising a pivotally mounted member engaging-a portion of the casing, rotary means comprising a wheel and shaft for permitting the pivotally mounted means to be retained and to assume inoperative position, and a spring connected with the pivotally mounted member and with a stationary member carried by the vessel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' JOHN W. MACDONALD; 

